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What makes a "good" thread?

Shawn September 28, 2018 at 04:41 12050 views 54 comments
I was hoping we could have a template for what makes a good thread. Often you see some good topics get bogged down in personal attacks, an ambiguity of definitions used, stipulative definitions used where official ones should be used, and so on. Often times, directionality is lacking due to lack of knowledge about the subject or some form of self-deceit. Anyway...

So, what makes a good thread a good thread?

Comments (54)

BC September 28, 2018 at 17:15 #216103
I do not know how to define a good topic. It seems to be the case that [what seem to be] good topics presented properly can be derailed by posters who wander off into the weeds. Whether it is the posters or the topic that is the problem could be tested by posting a splendidly well-structured OP, then allowing posters from Group A, who have a record of responding to posts in an on-point, orderly manner to respond in one thread. Group B, who have a record of responding to posts in a fashion that disrupts orderly discussion would be allowed to respond to the topic in a second thread.

You could also post a potentially good but poorly structured post. Have Group A and Group B respond to the same badly written OP in separate threads.

One could thereby observe the difference a well-structured and a poorly structured OP faired in the hands of good posters and bad posters.

Another approach would be to allow the OP author to delete off-topic, off-point postings. The OP author would have to be on-line a lot to delete every weeds-bound post.

I have now sent your OP into the weeds by making an impractical experiment out of it.

I could, if you would like, now launch a personal attack on your person to further ruin the integrity of your opening post.
BC September 28, 2018 at 17:20 #216107
Reply to Posty McPostface Sometimes indifferent threads become quite interesting when a weeds-sending poster performs their magic and says something irrelevant that transforms the discussion into something really good.
S September 28, 2018 at 18:21 #216123
I don't know. One with me in it? I'm kewl. But anyway, what's your favourite Pokémon? Let's talk about that instead.
Deleted User September 28, 2018 at 18:31 #216125
This user has been deleted and all their posts removed.
Streetlight September 28, 2018 at 18:35 #216126
A distinction; a demonstration of its significance; an argument; a conclusion (or a question).
BC September 28, 2018 at 20:06 #216144
A successful-traffic generating post is something about which many care. The Donald Trump United thread has 2.9K posts, while "The Morality Of Bestowing Sentience" -- which was addressed by 7 posts. Clearly Donald Trump is of more interest than the problem of bestowing sentience on the non-sentient--like Donald Trump, for instance.

The Uplift science fiction novels were about bestowing human-level sentience on dolphins and primates. Cracking good stories. Lots of science fiction novels feature sentient machines. Apparently the authors and enthusiastic readers of these novels are not members here.

90% of all of my OPs have failed to appeal to more than a few people. Either it's the way I pose topics, the topics itself, or personal animosity toward me. Of course I take a lack of interest personally.
Hanover September 28, 2018 at 20:29 #216149
Quoting Bitter Crank
A successful-traffic generating post is something about which many care.


This thread has 8 posts (including mine) in 16 hours. At this rate, it should fare well, although there's the real possibility it will suddenly die.
praxis September 28, 2018 at 20:41 #216156
Quoting Posty McPostface
So, what makes a good thread a good thread?


Seeking understanding, truth, wisdom or whatever, rather than merely trying to win an argument.
BC September 28, 2018 at 23:00 #216215
Quoting Hanover
8 posts (including mine) in 16 hours. At this rate, it should fare well


Really? It is only my impression that success is more immediate. Within 16 hours a virile manly thread will have taken off and have dozens of progeny. A wrinkly, limp-dick thread will get a post or two here and there and then shrivel up completely.

Timing matters too. Were you to start a new, not very novel thread on Ford/Kavan right now, it would probably not go anywhere, since the existing thread has been doing well. 435+ in 6 days).

Atheism and religion topics usually do well, even if most of them are really pretty similar. (Most of them could all be combined into one giant thread--The Gods: fir'em 'n agin'em.)
Shawn September 28, 2018 at 23:42 #216234
Thanks for all the responses. Interesting to note that the only consensus that has been arrived at is for truth/gained wisdom to be the end goal of any thread or that participants know that they share a common goal. Some form of a contractual moral theory, I suppose.

Alas, people vary and we can't entirely know another's interest or 'inclination' in/on a topic; but, spelling that out should be treated with greater significance.
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 00:03 #216239
Does anyone agree that ideally all disputes should end in a Rogerian manner?

How does one enforce that?
Deleted User September 29, 2018 at 01:22 #216294
This user has been deleted and all their posts removed.
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 01:24 #216295
Quoting tim wood
Do you mean conducted in a Rogerian manner, or end with a Rogerian product, notwithstanding the how it's got?


Yes. While it's epistemologically futile to claim otherwise, though.
Deleted User September 29, 2018 at 01:26 #216296
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Shawn September 29, 2018 at 01:28 #216300
Reply to tim wood

I mean to imply that the state of affairs of our Rogerian agreement is in question, then we can only work though backward induction to isolate where we or what we were wrong about.
Deleted User September 29, 2018 at 01:30 #216301
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Shawn September 29, 2018 at 01:31 #216302
Reply to tim wood

I think in some correspondence linguistic conception, simply as we go along discovering new truths.
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 01:35 #216307
Or are Rogerian agreements all about pragmatism in a consensus based belief system?
Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 01:36 #216309
Quoting Bitter Crank
Cracking good stories. Lots of science fiction novels feature sentient machines. Apparently the authors and enthusiastic readers of these novels are not members here.


I am here to represent them. :up:

Deleted User September 29, 2018 at 01:36 #216310
This user has been deleted and all their posts removed.
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 01:40 #216315
Reply to tim wood

OK, so let's assume we're engaging in a dispute utilizing reasoned argumentative strategies. If we both share the same goal of wanting to know the truth of the issue, then a Rogerian agreement becomes a necessary outcome.
Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 01:47 #216322
Quoting Posty McPostface
Does anyone agree that ideally all disputes should end in a Rogerian manner?


I hope that word is not the one that was in use a lot in England.

roger: have sexual intercourse
Deleted User September 29, 2018 at 01:47 #216323
This user has been deleted and all their posts removed.
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 01:49 #216325
Reply to Sir2u

Wow, that completely flew over my head. :rofl:
Deleted User September 29, 2018 at 01:50 #216326
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Shawn September 29, 2018 at 01:52 #216328
Quoting tim wood
I'll accept this as authoritative (for now).


But that's not how we arrive at consensus building, no?

Quoting tim wood
So I'm having difficulty with the idea of "a necessary outcome."


Sure, our propositional attitude can differ even if we agree on the same thing or dispute. Which is an interesting phenomenon worth exploring in my opinion.


Quoting tim wood
Let's be absurd for a moment. Imagine you're compelled to beat me with a stick to force me to acknowledge a certain truth (that through the benefit of the beating I do finally see and acknowledge as a truth). Is that a Rogerian agreement?


Not in the slightest. Rogerian agreements implore a certain amount of Felicity and consent by both parties involved.
Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 02:02 #216336
A good thread should have the following ingredients:
Posters that have the following;
A good measure of knowledge on the topic.
The willingness to learn what is not known about the topic.
The ability to express clearly their ideas without biases.

The topic should be;
Something that would be interesting to the people you wish to post in the thread.
Presented at the right time
Off limits to assholes.
Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 02:05 #216340
Quoting tim wood
Every so often there's proof of culture above and beyond my own. The Japanese, for example, do not waste time with 12 ounce beer bottles, but just sell liter bottles.


I will stick to 330ml cans, they are cheaper, you can sell the cans later, and I can still count them up to about ten.
Deleted User September 29, 2018 at 02:11 #216343
This user has been deleted and all their posts removed.
Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 02:18 #216348
Quoting tim wood
Still, though, on a hot semi-tropical day a big bottle of ice-cold Orion Beer is a beautiful thing.


On a hot tropical day, which I see almost everyday, there is nothing more beautiful than finishing one ice cold can of what ever beer is available and knowing that there are still 5 just as cold in the fridge.

One of our local super markets has been bringing in Portuguese beers this last year or so. They are better than the local stuff and cost about 30% less. It costs about 50cents US a can.
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 02:28 #216353
Reply to Sir2u

Darn, that's some pretty cheap beer. Now I'm thirsty.
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 02:32 #216354
@Baden would drink in the belly of the day. Haha.
Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 02:37 #216357
Quoting Posty McPostface
Darn, that's some pretty cheap beer. Now I'm thirsty.


Want me to pass you an ice cold CEZKA?
Shawn September 29, 2018 at 02:41 #216358
Quoting Sir2u
Want me to pass you an ice cold CEZKA?


Nah, I'm heading off to sleep. Cheers regardless. :smile:
Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 02:41 #216359
Jake September 29, 2018 at 08:59 #216403
Quoting Posty McPostface
So, what makes a good thread a good thread?


I opine brilliantly and then everyone applauds loudly and celebrates my genius.
Metaphysician Undercover September 29, 2018 at 11:15 #216419
Quoting Bitter Crank
I do not know how to define a good topic. It seems to be the case that [what seem to be] good topics presented properly can be derailed by posters who wander off into the weeds. Whether it is the posters or the topic that is the problem could be tested by posting a splendidly well-structured OP, then allowing posters from Group A, who have a record of responding to posts in an on-point, orderly manner to respond in one thread. Group B, who have a record of responding to posts in a fashion that disrupts orderly discussion would be allowed to respond to the topic in a second thread.


How would you distinguish members of group A from members of Group B? I think posters such as myself, stay on topic when the topic is sufficiently interesting to us. But when we are bored, like I am right now, we'll partake in threads which are lacklustre and of little interest. Then we'll wander off into the weeds.
Metaphysician Undercover September 29, 2018 at 11:17 #216420
Incidentally, it's the threads which have a lot of wandering and nonsense, which get the large post counts.
Metaphysician Undercover September 29, 2018 at 11:19 #216421
Ask Banno, the master of large post counts.
Baden September 29, 2018 at 15:38 #216469
unenlightened September 29, 2018 at 18:31 #216499
Quoting Posty McPostface
So, what makes a good thread a good thread?


It goes to church on Sunday, and cleans its teeth twice a day, and likes beer.

Or is that a good supreme court judge?

Size isn't everything, and speed isn't either. My ideal for my own threads is to garner just enough responses to keep it on the front page for a few days, and end up with maybe 3 - 5 pages. To be provoked to new thoughts, to be pointed to new sources, to make new connections, come to a new understanding. I want a few thoughtful, challenging replies, not a stream of instant to-ing and fro-ing
BC September 29, 2018 at 21:37 #216523
Quoting unenlightened
Size isn't everything


Bigger usually is better.
javra September 29, 2018 at 23:33 #216547
Quoting Bitter Crank
Size isn't everything
— unenlightened

Bigger usually is better.


According to the Kama Sutra, this is not true. Elephants are better for elephants and rabbits are better for rabbits, usually. I suppose ducks should have been included in all this (with ducks it gets tricky though, size doesn’t really apply to something not had). Just saying.
Jake September 29, 2018 at 23:42 #216550
Quoting Bitter Crank
Bigger usually is better.


He he.... :smile:

Alright now, cut it out, there are many children present.

Sir2u September 29, 2018 at 23:48 #216552
Quoting Jake
Alright now, cut it out, there are many children present.


And most of them could probably teach you and me a thing or two. :yikes:
BC September 30, 2018 at 01:06 #216573
Reply to javra Reply to Jake Reply to Sir2u And I was just thinking of a piece of blueberry pie!

What was that about ducks? Geez, people obsessed with duck smut. Ballistic penises and corkscrew vaginas...

"Normally, the duck keeps its penis inside-out within a sac in its body. When the time for mating arrives, the penis explodes outwards to a fully-erect 20cm, around a quarter of the animal’s total body length. The whole process takes just a third of a second and Brennan captures it all on high-speed camera. This isn’t just bizarre voyeurism. Duck penises are a wonderful example of the strange things that happen when sexual conflict shapes the evolution of animal bodies."

User image

Have you ever noticed how Donald Duck almost never shuts his mouth? You would think he would get cramps in his head and neck holding it open all the time.
Sir2u September 30, 2018 at 01:13 #216575
Quoting Bitter Crank
And I was just thinking of a piece of blueberry pie!


Some call a moderator, this is definitely off topic.

And thank you for the detailed explanation of a duck's sex organs. Thank the lord you did not find a video about it.
Sir2u September 30, 2018 at 01:14 #216576
Has anyone one else thought about how well this thread is progressing?
S September 30, 2018 at 01:14 #216577
Quoting Posty McPostface
Or are Rogerian agreements all about pragmatism in a consensus based belief system?


Pikachu. What's yours?
Shawn September 30, 2018 at 02:11 #216590
This thread lacks direction. I suggest we close it.
Sir2u September 30, 2018 at 22:48 #216883
Quoting Posty McPostface
This thread lacks direction. I suggest we close it.


Just thought of something else a thread should not have, negativism.

As a wise Martian, Uncle Martin, once said "The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open"
Caldwell October 02, 2018 at 03:06 #217272
Quoting Bitter Crank
90% of all of my OPs have failed to appeal to more than a few people. Either it's the way I pose topics, the topics itself, or personal animosity toward me.

I laughed at this! :grin:
ArguingWAristotleTiff October 02, 2018 at 14:43 #217381
Quoting Posty McPostface
This thread lacks direction. I suggest we close it.


Noo!! Please don't! This thread is one of the ones that make me smile based upon the levity and those in attendance! :flower:
Wheatley October 04, 2018 at 02:39 #217780
Another question that is relevant is - what type of threads do you like? And what type of threads don't you like ( don't say my threads :joke: )?